FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORTLAND, ORE. (Mar. 19, 2009) – Three Port Projects To Get Stimulus Boost

Approximately $16.3 million in federal stimulus grants will flow to key projects at or near the Port of Portland’s marine and aviation facilities creating more than 300 construction-related jobs and ensuring the long term effectiveness and efficiency of these critical cargo and passenger facilities.

The largest grant, about $8.9 million will go toward crane and wharf modernization projects at the Port’s Terminal 6, the only international marine container port in Oregon.  About $7 million will go toward the rehabilitation of one of the taxiways at Portland International Airport and about $400,000 will help fund a right turn lane at the Troutdale Interchange on South Frontage Road at 257th Avenue.  The new lane will provide relief for the heavy demand for the eastbound and southbound traffic at the interchange which serves surrounding businesses, the Troutdale Airport and the Port’s Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park, soon to be the home of the new Fed Ex Ground distribution hub and about 950 jobs. 

“It is especially gratifying to receive these funds now,” said Port Executive Director Bill Wyatt. “Ninety-seven percent of Port revenues are generated by business transactions, so we have felt the sting of the current economic downturn and have had to cut or delay several capital projects. This funding will help keep critical projects on track.”

At Terminal 6 about $1.6 million will be used to install modern motor drives and a new programmable logic controller in one of the nine cranes used to haul cargo on and off ships. The crane, first installed in 1991, is the Port’s heavy-lift crane and is one of its largest and most heavily used.  About $7.2 million will go toward extending the rails upon which the cranes move to provide a full two-berth post-Panamax facility at Port container berths 604 and 605. The project will also include electrical, seismic, minor structural and storm water improvements.

The Terminal 6 projects will create about 150 construction-related jobs and will sustain the viability of the container facility and the more than 100 to 250 people who work there on an ongoing basis generating total annual wages of approximately $25 million.  Including offsite jobs related to container shipping, Terminal 6 currently generates nearly 3,600 living wage jobs with an average annual salary of $50,484 which in turn bring in over $11 million in taxes to Oregon and support over $200 million in business revenues. 

Other economic benefits include shipper efficiencies achieved by enhancing the operations of Terminal 6.  Studies have shown that container vessel service at Terminal 6 saves Oregon importers and exporters $52.3 million in inland transportation costs annually or about $381 per container.  These reduced costs will help an estimated 1,000 regional shippers to compete and expand their participation in overseas markets. 

The rehabilitation of the taxiway at PDX will extend the useful life of the pavement.  The FAA grant frees up funding for other high priority projects and allows PDX to keep costs competitive for the airlines.  In addition, about 150 to 175 construction-related jobs will be created as a result of the project.

The Troutdale Interchange work, adjacent to the Port’s Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park, is a critical piece of transportation infrastructure supporting the efficient movement of goods to and from our region.  The right turn lane project and other planned improvements will significantly increase the operation and safety of the couplet system at the interchange and provide improved access. Work on the right turn lane should begin this summer.